Friday, 16 September 2016

Wildflowers in Western Australia: Kings Park, Perth.

The days might be getting colder in the northern hemisphere - but - it is spring in Australia, and spring means flowers! David and I have flown for five and a half hours across the continent from our home in Sydney to Perth to see one of the best displays of wildflowers on the planet. Western Australia has 12,000 species of wildflowers, over 60 percent of which are found nowhere else on earth. When you think of the vast expanse of Australia's largest state (2,600,000 sq kms) don't just think red desert and endless open expanses, think magnificent floral tapestries in every colour of the rainbow.

The wildflowers begin to bloom in June in the north and progressively move south until the season ends in November. Being lazy (savvy) tourists, David and I shortcutted the whole wandering around in the bush thing seeking out exotic orchards and other flora and headed straight to the wildflower festival at Kings Park in Perth where from the 1st to the 30th of September the city plays host to the largest display of wildflowers in the state.

There isn't a lot I can say about flowers, I can barely name any of them, so just sit back and enjoy the photos!

I have no idea what this sculpture signifies but I thought it was impressive so I took a photo.

Kings Park is on a hill overlooking Perth. Even if you aren't there in wildlfower season it is worth visiting just for the views.

This Boab is estimated to be 750 years old. It may look dead but it is actually just recovering from a long journey - I know how it feels! In 2008 it was brought 3,200 kms from the Kimberleys in the north of Western Australia. Click here for the story of the tree and its relocation.

I am fairly sure this is a Sth African flower but it was so lovely I wanted to include it. It looks a lot like a yellow version of the New South Wales emblem the waratah.

Tips and tricks and things to know: -

Kings Park Perth is free to visit.

There is free parking at the park, however during the festival it gets quite busy. Try to visit on a weekday morning.

Kings Park is 400 hectares. There is a lot more to do than just look at the wildflowers. Click here for more information.

For information on where to find wildflowers in Western Australia click - here.

Related posts - Click on the titles below for other posts from our road trip in Western Australia: -

52 comments:

Looks like you had a lovely time at Kings Park, one of my favourite places to while away some time on a gorgeous spring day. I was there recently for a cocktail party at Frasers and the views in the evening are stunning. You timed your visit well to see the best of the spring flowers. Thanks for sharing this with #TheWeeklyPostcard

We deliberately came in September so we could see the wildflowers. Driving through the south-west we are seeing them all over the place but the down side is the cold weather. I'm not sure I would come back to the south at this time of year. Next year we are coming back to Perth (D has already booked the flights) but we are headed north toward the Coral Coast.

Oh you would have loved that area this time. It is the absolute best year for wildflowers in the areas around Cervantes, Jurien, etc. Hopefully next year will be just as pretty. Hope we get to catch up again when you return.

Our flowers in California are very similar with the ones you have in this part of Australia. The only thing is that they are not wild flowers here, but planted. Perhaps they have been brought here from Australia.

Propagated Western Australian wildflowers grow really well in our garden in Sydney but it is only in the last few years we have been able to buy them. Although 60% of Western Australia's wildflowers are unique 40% aren't so it is possible they are the same or similar to the flowers you have in California.

I have heard a lot about Kings Park in Perth and it's great to see more photos from there. Did you really just fly to Perth for the flowers or are there more nice posts like this coming from your trip? Can't wait to read more. Thanks for sharing these awesome captures!

We timed our trip to see the wild flowers but we will be here for two weeks altogether. We are doing a road trip from Perth to the Margaret River then Albany and Esperance so there are lots more photos and blog posts to come.

I love Kings Parks Perth and its unique wildflowers! Kings Parks is the first place on my list whenever I re-visit Perth. To me this is the most beautiful city park I have ever seen. And yes it does get sooo cold in W.A. I can tell you from my last road trip down south to Albany, in April, how freezing it was, especially after sunset and at night! Great photos!

Great pictures. I love wildflowers, but growing up in Texas I am partial to bluebonnets. In some parts of Texas you just see the fields of bluebonnets along the highway and then there is also the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower center. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.

So beautiful! Definitely worth the 5-hour flight from Sydney to Perth :-) We also just celebrated our wildflower season in South Africa...my favourite time of the year. PS: your last pic does look like a South African pincushion, yes :-) #TheWeeklyPostcard

I´m never tired of flowers! These at Kings Park look stunning: all the forms and colors, especially if you can't find most of them anywhere else! Never been to Australia before, but now I definitely won't miss Perth!

Wow, your wildflower photos are absolutely stunning! They're not something I normally go out of my way to see, but if I ever get back to Australia, I certainly want to see the west of the country, and it looks like spring is the time to go!

It has been colder than we expected in the south-west. Cold weather is not something you would normally associate with Western Australia. We are coming in spring again next year but we are headed north from Perth so we hope to see the wildflowers again but in warmer weather this time.

Loved your comment about not naming flowers as I seem surrounded by friends who can not only name their common names, but the Latin and tell me every detail and I am the one who usually says, "it was a big yellow bloom with frilly leaves" about them. Beautiful tour both of plants and place!

There was a series of photos showing the journey the boab took from its original location to where it was re-planted. It was moved 3,200 kilometres and became quite a celebrity in its own right as it passed through remote settlements in the north-west.

Who needs names with photos as lovely as these! Spring, regardless of location, is always such a refreshing time of year. The sculpture reminds me of a fountain of water, and there's something about that Boab tree that is very intriguing. #LTTL

Stunning flowers, and the idea of moving a 750 year old tree is mind-boggling!!!I hope you'll come on by & link up at [On the other hand, I wrote about the KeepGo and the use of data, not roaming or texting.]

What a fantastic way to begin spring in Australia! Can't believe that there are so many different species of wildflowers in Western Australia. I really enjoyed the photos you captured :) Thanks for sharing, Lyn!

I guess will be no wild flowers when we visit Perth is February, but sounds like Kings Park would be a nice place to visit in any case? I love the wild flowers here in the UK, but I don't think we have as many different species as you have in Australia. Thank you for your lovely photos😄